title: TGF-β modulates ovarian cancer invasion by upregulating CAF-derived versican in the tumor microenvironment.
abstract: TGF-β has limited effects on ovarian cancer cells, but its contributions to ovarian tumor growth might be mediated through elements of the tumor microenvironment. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that TGF modulates ovarian cancer progression by modulating the contribution of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) that are present in the microenvironment. Transcriptome profiling of microdissected stromal and epithelial components of high-grade serous ovarian tumors and TGF-β-treated normal ovarian fibroblasts identified versican (VCAN) as a key upregulated target gene in CAFs. Functional evaluations in coculture experiments showed that TGF-β enhanced the aggressiveness of ovarian cancer cells by upregulating VCAN in CAFs. VCAN expression was regulated in CAFs through TGF-β receptor type II and SMAD signaling. Upregulated VCAN promoted the motility and invasion of ovarian cancer cells by activating the NF-κB signaling pathway and by upregulating expression of CD44, matrix metalloproteinase-9, and the hyaluronan-mediated motility receptor. Our work identified a TGF-β-inducible gene signature specific to CAFs in advanced high-grade serous ovarian tumors, and showed how TGF-β stimulates ovarian cancer cell motility and invasion by upregulating the CAF-specific gene VCAN. These findings suggest insights to develop or refine strategies for TGF-β-targeted therapy of ovarian cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Tsz-Lun
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.forename: Cecilia S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: Kwong-Kwok
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Goli
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Samimi
authors.forename: Melissa S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Jinsong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Tarrik M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Zaid
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Birrer
authors.forename: Samuel C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Mok
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics; D018450:Disease Progression; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051785:Smad Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D059467:Transcriptome; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000235:genetics*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D053675:Versicans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D016328:NF-kappa B; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D051785:Smad Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; C508322:VCAN protein, human; C098946:hyaluronan-mediated motility receptor; D053675:Versicans; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9